Victory (1981)

In World War II, a group of NAZI officers come up with a propaganda event in which an all-star NAZI team will play a team composed of Allied POW's in a soccer (football) game.  The prisoners agree, planning on using the game as a means of escape from the camp.  Directed by the legendary Oscar-winner John Huston (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, Prizzi's Honor) late in his career, this sports drama is lead by Oscar-winner Sylvester Stallone, Oscar-winner Michael Caine, Oscar-nominated Max von Sydow, and the late, great professional football LEGEND Pele. :) Just in time for the last round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup....NOW is the time for heroes. 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

VICTORY or ESCAPE TO VICTORY - 1981

Directed by John Huston

Starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow, Carol Laure, Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Paul Van Himst, Kazimierz Deyna, Mike Summerbie, Co Prins, Russell Osman, John Wark, and PELE

Genre: Sports Drama (Audio clip)

This was a first-time Independence Day (sorta) watch for my wife and son (who's getting into soccer) and they just ate it up. :) As for me, this has been a perennial rewatch for me as it was also a pure comfort food movie from back in the day....but when was the title changed to "Escape to Victory"?? 🤔 Seeing this on cable and/or video in the '80's, I don't ever remember that title....but there it is during the opening credits this time around.

Stallone, Caine, and the late, great Pele...what more could you want? Every one is charming ESPECIALLY Stallone looking beautifully chiseled in what I believe was his first role post-plastic surgery role - hard to tell with Nighthawks because the jawline was all covered with scruff...but Rocky II came out just two years before this and you see a HUGE difference. 🙂 Regardless he's fun to watch as Hatch the brash, American wanna-be goalie and man I remember there being more of Pele in this thing....but he's still a joy to watch even with his more limited screen-time.

I really dig this movie but WOW...it works a lot better if you really don't think about it towards the end - I think this was very loosely based on some exhibition football game held during WWII but you just kinda go with the last half hour for how life-affirming it is even if it defies reality. I've gotta wonder if Stallone saw how well the late, great John Huston (The Man Who Would Be King, Treasure of the Sierra Madre) played all of this and thought when he was directing Rocky IV, a couple years later: "Yeah....French crowd in Nazi-occupied Paris smuggling the POW's out of stadium in broad daylight while Nazi major cheers them on....I think I can top that!" 🙂

And speaking of which, has there ever been a NICER on-screen Nazi than Max Von Sydow's Major Von Steiner? 😆 We know he's got the chops for villainy....he played Ming just the year before! Regardless, it's hard to imagine this plot setting into motion without his Major Von Steiner's generosity and pure appreciation for the sport of "football" - it's a good performance overall even when you can't buy the character. 

The performances are actually pretty solid across the board, including from a cast filled with then professional soccer players from across Europe. All of the football action is convincingly exciting as a result, most notably that aforementioned climactic match (between Allies and Axis) in Paris. Even though we never really see the actor himself actually playing on-field, two-time Oscar-winner Michael Caine's Colby makes a fun, compelling leader for our team of misfit POW's. 

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

One key driver for what makes this film work SO well is the music conducted by Providence, Rhode Island’s FAVORITE son….the legendary Oscar-winner Bill Conti.  And this is the SAME Bill Conti who was right in the middle of a STERLING run of memorable scores for OTHER sports movies, mainly the Rocky and The Karate Kid franchise.  And this might even sound a bit controversial but I think THIS score is actually better than either of those two with what likely remains for me one of THE most hummable main themes of any film from the 1980’s.  (Audio clip) 

Now mind you, his music delivers more than just ONE memorable theme for this film….but I’ll get to that in just a bit.  Regardless with is fast military-like percussion and soaring horns, I have always found this theme to be both comforting AND rousing….despite the alternate titles for this film, this track is still referred to all these years later as “VICTORY – Main Title.” (Audio clip)   

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

As much as I love the overall talent involved with this film….Stallone has certainly been better – just watch him pretend to be a goalie, Michael Caine has been better – just watch his overall LACK of field play, and the late, great John Huston has CERTAINLY directed significantly better films.  And honestly I would have LOVED a bit more from some of the professional players involved, most notably Pele, England’s Bobby Moore, and Argentina’s Osvaldo Hernandez who all play for the Allied team.  I have SUCH a soft spot for the ending and the overall plot leading up to it but not gonna lie….it’s pretty damn clunky.  So while I wouldn’t say that any one involved was particularly WASTED…..I would say that there was some talent which could have been used a bit better. (Audio clip) 

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

Wow the last half hour of this film is just FILLED with great moments, pretty much all of them on the soccer field…..but yes, the standout one has to be the last goal to be scored by our heroes and GUESS who kicks it in?  Not just kicks it mind you….a BICYCLE kick.   None other than Pele the man himself who is portraying Corporal Luis Fernandez….from Trinidad….sure.  As far as I know, these sorts of kicks weren’t even really a part of the game back in 1942 but no matter…..it’s SUCH a glorious thing to witness that even Von Sydow’s Von Steiner takes notice and we see it replay in his head a couple more times.  You could even say that it’s a KICK to watch…..sorry Dad joke, couldn’t resist. (Audio clip) 

MVP (person most responsible for the success of this film):

At the end of the day, it really DOES come down to the music.  Even beyond that eminently hummable main theme, Conti’s score is just BRINGING it no matter the scenario….ESPECIALLY the during climactic second half of that climactic game in Paris.  Just listen to how much this orchestra cooks for just one key breakaway late in the game leading to a goal….just great pulse-pounding stuff! (Audio clip) 

So much of the emotion for this story is driven by what I consider to be one of THE best scores of the 1980’s, probably tied with Hoosiers as THE best sports score of that decade.  For delivering one of his best, Bill Conti is the MVP. (Audio clip) 

Final Rating: 4 stars out of 5 

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Happy 45th Anniversary to what I consider to be one of the more underrated sports dramas of my lifetime and possibly even the Best Football/Soccer Movie of All Time!  And for any one who is currently enjoying the majesty of the FIFA World Cup…”We are 26!!!” 

And that ends another VICTOIRE  review!